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Building family values into your
new and improved kitchen
by Roger Faris
Have you noticed that things are heating up in the kitchen? A controversy is brewing. Kitchen remodeling has always been an expensive and complicated home improvement project. Some homeowners now find themselves facing philosophical and moral issues as well.
Several writers and lecturers have been saying harsh things about the modern kitchens that are shown in shelter magazines. These critics see the images as seductive and dream fulfillment fantasies that, in the end, fail to deliver lasting happiness. More than that, the gadget-filled room is under attack as a major contributor to poor diet, pollution, waste, and the national debt.
A local expert in the voluntary simplicity movement recently wrote about how modern conveniences come with disadvantages that are not always obvious. A food processor was mentioned as an expensive thing that adds to clutter, is hard to keep clean, and doesn't work much better than a knife and cutting board. A growing number of people share this perspective. They are looking closely at how much our various purchases really cost. They take into account, among other factors, the time it takes to earn the dollars that are so quickly spent. It is easy to demonstrate many benefits of resisting impulses and urges. If we avoid buying things that we don't need, we are rewarded with time for the more important things in life.
New kitchens are getting close scrutiny because the cost of high quality materials, appliances, fixtures, and labor have put them in a category with luxury cars and yachts. Many kitchens shown in the magazines are large and well organized. They have efficient work areas for preparing elegant meals, and have extra space and seating to allow the cook to visit and dine with friends and family. The lighting, colors, textures, and other esthetic details are usually impressive. Sometimes, though, these kitchens seem a little too complete. A trash compactor is one example of something that I am happy to not own. Some of the solid counter surfaces look great, but they would cost more to install in my kitchen than the original value of the house and property. I'll stay with plastic laminate and remember to use a cutting board.
A good case can be made, however, for investing in components which will work efficiently and last a long time. If you are determined to have a dishwasher, and you are likely to live in your house for many years, it might make sense to buy a model that uses less water and electricity, operates more quietly, cleans more thoroughly with less detergent, and works longer and more reliably than the typical low cost washer. The Europeans and Scandinavians realized this some time ago, and have been making and buying high quality products. The only problem is the high initial cost. It's impressive.
Not all of the expensive kitchen parts perform in an outstanding way or last longer. Designer faucets and fixtures with bright colors or unusual shapes don't necessarily work better than a plain but solid unit. A friend who provides architectural and contracting services likes to guide his customers toward good quality chrome plated brass faucets. He likes to help keep the remodeling budget under control, and appreciates good value and sensible choices. Not surprisingly, he is a member of the Eco-Builders Guild, which is a great resource for people who are interested in thoughtful and responsible construction practices.
Finding the right balance in kitchen design is a worthwhile challenge, since this is an important place any home. The best solutions will emerge from a long and careful design process that begins with questions about why a project is being contemplated and what elements need to be considered to ensure that the needs are met. For ideas about alternatives to the typical solutions, take a look at the chapter on kitchens in The Natural House Book, by architect / author David Pearson. His writing, illustrations, and photos may inspire people who want to step away from unhealthy and overconsuming tendencies.
When the planning stage is complete and it's time to accomplish the project, be sure to take a few steps to protect your family unit from the chaos and turmoil that goes with the territory. One of these is to seal off the construction zone with plastic and tape. Construction dust is toxic. Another vital step is to create a temporary kitchen in another area of the house. Failure to do this may result in a serious fast-food habit. Remember that a well organized contractor usually requires at least six weeks to put together all of the pieces. If you are doing the work yourself, plan on six months. If this sounds outrageous and unacceptable, hold tight until the next article. I have a plan.
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